An alleged arson ring leader has been bailed to a $60,000 rehabilitation facility where he will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device.
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Majid Alibadi, 25, will be released from Barwon Prison after Melbourne Magistrate Megan Casey granted his application for bail on Wednesday afternoon.
Alibadi is facing more than 20 charges relating to alleged firebombings and car thefts across Melbourne between September 2023 and March.
Police allege he was the "agent" for Kazem 'Kaz' Hamad, who was allegedly running the Hamad family's organised crime operations from the Middle East.
Police believe the Hamad family is behind the series of arson attacks against the Haddara syndicate over the importation and distribution of illegal tobacco.
Alibadi was allegedly recorded, through a police-operated bug in his car, to be organising the arsons and counselling others to carry out the attacks.
They include the firebombing of a Glenroy tobacco store in October and two arson attacks on the Karizma restaurant in Docklands in November.
Both businesses are owned by members of the Haddara family.
Alibadi's barrister Dermot Dann KC told the court Alibadi was accepted into a new residential rehabilitation facility after another centre withdrew support last week.
The new centre's intake co-ordinator gave evidence that the facility - costing $60,000 for a 90-day program - would treat Alibadi's addiction to methamphetamine, cannabis and alcohol.
It would also provide 24-hour supervision and enforce the wearing of an electronic monitoring device, the co-ordinator said.
Prosecutor Neville Rudston argued there was no evidence of Alibadi using any drug other than cannabis and that the rehabilitation centre was a "red herring".
But Ms Casey said she was satisfied Alibadi had been addicted to drugs for at least the past six years.
Mr Dann also submitted there would be extensive delays before the case reaches trial and that Alibadi had been in 23-hour lockdown while in custody.
Ms Casey accepted those submissions and found the risk to public safety could be ameliorated if Alibadi was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device and reside at the rehabilitation centre.
She released Alibadi on bail to the centre, on the condition he wear the monitoring device, not use encrypted phone apps or be in contact with Kazem Hamad and other prosecution witnesses.
He is due to return to Melbourne Magistrates Court in July.
Australian Associated Press
